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Computer users and programmers have become so accustomed to
using Windows, even for the changing capabilities and the
appearances of the graphical interface of the versions,
therefore it has remained Microsoft’s product. Although,
Lycoris, Red Hat, Mandrake, Suse, Knoppix, Slackware and Lindows
make up some of the different versions of LINUX. These companies
release their own versions of the operating systems with minor
changes, and yet always with the same bottom line. The simple
fact that not one of these companies are close to competing with
Windows, for the most part causes the difference in market share.

It sometimes seems everyone on the planet is using Windows. Many
say Windows is way better than LINUX because of the simple
handling of the software or hardware. There are huge differences
between the number of users of LINUX and Windows. Many say LINUX
is far better because it started as an Open Source software and
thus is more flexible than Windows. Then what accounts for the
enormous difference in market share between these two operating
systems?

Windows and Linux are different in many ways.

1. Windows GUI is an integral component of the OS; speed,
efficiency and reliability, while the Linux GUI is optional, are
increased by running a server instance of Linux without a GUI,
something that server versions of Windows simply can’t do. The
nature of the Linux GUI makes remote administration of a Linux
computer easier with a more natural feel than Windows computers.

2. The command prompts of the operating systems are very
different. The command interpreters in the Windows 9x series are
very similar to each other and the NT class versions of Windows
also have similar command interpreters. There are, however
differences between a Windows 9x command interpreter and one in
an NT class flavor of Windows. Linux, like UNIX, also supports
multiple command interpreters, but it usually uses BASH or
“Bourne Again Shell”.

3. While you have to pay hundred’s of dollars for a new Windows
version, you can just go download Linux. There’s no manuals or
simple installers for the free version. Although there is quite
a learning curve when utilizing the free package. There are some
easy automated packages of Linux for low prices.

Microsoft’s “big con” is the supposed security issues with
windows. Most spyware, adware and malicious files programs work
with Windows just fine. In general you do not deal with these
kinds of circumstances unless you are working with Windows.
whereas Linux offers a strong protection, password protection
for Windows can be bypassed with ease.

The software availability is the key to why Windows wins over
Linux in this competition. Most software releases are already
configured for Windows. If you chose to use Linux you must copy
Windows with special software in order to use your windows based
programs. You could always install Windows as a subsystem to
Linux, this would take the administrative capabilities of
Windows and allow them to funtion on Linux.

If Linux is ever to compete with Windows, it must become more
user friendly and provide serious technical support.

About the author:
For information about: J. Brian Keith Data Recovery,
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Falling prey to a phishing scam is a scary thought; no one wants
their identity stolen. How can you learn to tell the difference
between legitimate emails and scams?

You’re probably wondering, first off, where it gets that strange
name from. As the Webopedia Computer Dictionary says at the tail
end of its “phishing” definition:

Phishing, also referred to as brand spoofing or carding, is a
variation on “fishing,” the idea being that bait is thrown out
with the hopes that while most will ignore the bait, some will
be tempted into biting.

Wikipedia.org, however, goes into a bit more detail about how
and why phishing scams work:

In computing, phishing (also known as carding and spoofing) is a
form of social engineering, characterised by attempts to
fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as passwords
and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy person
or business in an apparently official electronic communication,
such as an email or an instant message. The term phishing arises
from the use of increasingly sophisticated lures to “fish” for
users’ financial information and passwords.

Some of the most common phishing scams around are the PayPal and
Ebay ones – everyone should know by now that any email
purporting to come from these two companies which requires you
to sign-on via a link in the email is anything but legit. But
what about those that come from your specific credit card
company, bank, or another company you do business with?

There is one word of advice I can give you – one thing you can
always remember when trying to decide if an email is fake or
legit – you can be sure that companies, finanical institutions,
nor credit companies will EVER ask you for your account
information via email!!

That bears repeating and further clarification: ANY EMAIL
THAT ASKS YOU TO “SIGN-ON” FROM THE EMAIL, THEREBY HAVING TO
TYPE IN YOUR ACCOUNT NAME AND/OR PASSWORD, IS NOT LEGIT!!

If you have any concerns on whether the email in front of you is
the real-deal, and you worry your account may be suspended or
canceled (as many of them threaten to do to “scare” you into
giving up your info), open a new browser window and type the URL
of the company/institution into the URL bar. Go directly to the
site – never click on the links given in the email. You could
also call the company/institution in question and ask them if
there is anything amiss with your account, and if they have
tried to contact you.

Even for a seasoned veteran like myself, spoof emails are very
difficult to spot. Take this great Phishing IQ Test offered by
MailFrontier
(http://survey.mailfrontier.com/survey/quiztest.html). I got
less than half right – and I know what to look for!

Remembering the simple rule of thumb given above (no clicking on
links in emails, companies won’t ask for personal/account info
via email) and you should be okay – even if you (like me) failed
the Phishing IQ Test!

The best protection – always – is to be informed. Learn as much
about phishing and pharming as you can – stay abreast of the
latest attacks and most common spoof emails in circulation. And,
always, be wary of giving our personal and account information
online!

About the author:
Professional i.t. tech & geeky-girl gamer who feels her duty to
warn the average user about the dangers of the Internet. Feel
free to use, please link back to homecomputersafety.com

Have you priced a laptop computer lately? Buying a new laptop is
a big investment; and just how big of an investment you want to
make is entirely up to you. Look in your Sunday newspaper flyers
to see countless models on sale each week. Initially selections
were made by looking at the specifications and the general
appearance. However that’s not the sole criteria any longer.
Everyday more and more people are now stepping inside the mobile
world. With so many models of laptops now available, how can you
be sure about the choice you make? Below are several factors you
should consider: CPU (Central Processing Unit), Video Card, hard
disk, noise, battery life and RAM (Random Access Memory).

CPU is the main component which determines the performance of
your computer and also the heating and the battery life. There
is a trade-off between the CPU performance and the battery-life
and power consumption (heating). If you want a laptop which
would replace a desktop and if you are not planning to travel
with it a lot then there are several different offers with
desktop CPUs integrated in the laptop main board (such as a P4).

If you are fond of mobility and are going to use your new laptop
for your business purposes or school, then you should consider
buying a laptop with more suitable CPUs. AMD Athlon can be a
solution: Athlon processors are designed for users who are
looking for economical solutions, both purchase and usage. Older
models of Athlon are no where near Intel Pentium products from
the point of performance, and yet new models like 2800+ are
potent enough to compete with P4 2.8 GHz.

There is one more model of CPU that many of the customers
prefer: Centrino. Centrino is the new attempt of Intel to
balance the tradeoff between the performance and mobility
issues. With the 2 MB second level cash, the Pentium CPU is
modified for the laptop which eases the burden of the CPU and
implicitly pulls down the levels of heating and power
consumption.

RAM and the graphic card are also two important factors for the
quality of the laptop. There are two kinds of RAM on the market:
SD RAM and DD RAM. In any case, there is no tradeoff, no
comparison: DD RAM is better, and yet, you still have to be
careful about the clock specification of the RAM. If you buy a
RAM with 333 MHz clock speed, you will see the performance
improvement it supplies to the whole system. Another thing to
consider is that some computers have 512 MB RAM with two slots
(256 x 2) which is not very good for the new laptop you are
going to buy. Overall, if you want a good laptop, you should
consider one equipped with a 333 MHz, 512 MB, DD RAM.

There are various video cards on the market today. The first
thing you should check is the “ON-Board” specification in the
video card. These cards are integrated into the main board and
generally use your main RAM as for the video memory. If you are
going to use your laptop for general purposes, not for gaming or
3-D design which would require 3D hardware acceleration, these
laptops with onboard video card are for you. However, if you are
a professional Counter Strike player, you would be disappointed
with the screen delays and freezes.

The last technical detail is the hard disk. While buying a hard
disk there is a detail which is much more important then the
capacity: RPM. Rotation Per Minute determines how fast the data
transfer rate is to the CPU to be processed so this
specification also plays a huge role while dealing with
multimedia stuff.

So if you’re in the market for a new laptop computer, one
suggestion is to consider buying a Centrino laptop with an
onboard video card with a big RAM if you are planning to use it
for school or business purposes and also randomly for movies and
music. Nevertheless, Pentium computers with AGP or PCI Express
video off-board video cards would give you the performance of a
desktop if you don’t mind the weight, noise and the heating of
the laptop.

With so many decisions to make, take your time; do your homework
and invest wisely.

About the author:

Jay is the web owner of http://www.dsl-in.com DSL, a website that provides
information and resources on DSL, DSL Service, and DSL Service
Providers. You can visit his website at: DSL Service